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(No Model.)

J A MoCAIN RAIL JOINT AND TIE PLATE.

PatentedMay 3,1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MCCAIN, OF DECATUR, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WASHINGTONJ. HOUSTON, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,610, dated May 3,1898.

Application filed Tune 19, 1897- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MCCAIN, residing at North Decatur, in thecounty of De Kalb and State of Georgia, have invented a new and usefulRail-Joint and Tie-Plate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to certain improvements in rail-joints andtie-plates in-' tended to connect the rails together and securely lockthem in position, thereby avoiding accident by reason of said railsbecoming disconnected or spreading.

The object of my invention is to provide an effective and reliablerail-joint composed of but a few parts so arranged that the fishplatesand rails will be securely locked in position against any movementoccasioned by the jar or strain of trains passing over the rails andplate to be used in connection with my rail-joint.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists in certaindetails of construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts,as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specificallypointed out in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the parts of my device inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical sectional view through the rail-joint. Fig. 4 is ageneral view showing the two fish-plates detached, and Fig. 5 is adetail view of the tie-plate.

The same letters of reference will indicate similar parts wherever theyoccur throughout the several views.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I have shown a rail A, ofthe usual construction, provided with the holes B.

0 indicates a fish-plate provided on the inner surface with slots Flarger at one end than at the other and dovetailed in its smaller end,as shown at G.

H represents a similar fish-plate having studs or projections I, formedintegral therewith on its inner face, the portion J of the fierial No.641,459. (No model.)

studs being preferably formed square and larger than the dovetailed partK.

L indicates my improved tie-plate, the same comprising the base orsupport having the square openings M for the reception of the spikes,and formed on the upper surface and integral therewith is a lip N,curved on its under side to snugly fit and embrace the flange of therail. When this tie-plate is placed in position and the rails rest uponit, spikes are driven through the openings thereof, the heads of thespikes embracing the flange of the rail on one side and the lip of thetie-plate on-the other, the plate supporting the ends of the rails.

In operation the rails are set in position and the fish-plate H placedagainst one side thereof, the studs or projections passing through theopenings of the rails, the fishplate provided with the slots beingplaced on the opposite side of the rails, so that the studs orprojections of the fish-plate H will pass through the openings of therail and the large ends of the slots of the opposing fish-plate". Thefish-plate G is then moved lengthwise, thereby causing the ends K of thestuds I of the plate H to enter the dovetailed ends of the slots of theplate 0 in order to lock the plates together. The usual spikes are thendriven into the ties, when the rails will be securely held in position.

Should it at any time become necessary to separate the rails, the spikesmay be withdrawn and the plate 0 moved in the opposite directionto thatabove described until the studs of the plate H reach the enlarged endsof the slots of the plate 0, when the several parts may be easilyseparated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide arail-joint so constructed that the fish-plates can be securely lockedtogether through the medium of the studs or projections and thepeculiarshaped slots in which said studs or projections are adapted tobe inserted and locked. I

1 Various slight changes might be made in the forms, constructions, andarrangements of the parts herein described without depart ing from thespirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not care to limit myself tothe exact construction herein set forth, but consider myself entitled toall such slight changes as may fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rail-joint comprising the rails and the fish-plates, one of saidfish-plates being provided with the longitudinal slots having one 7 endlarger than the other, and the smaller end dovetailed, the oppositeplate being provided on its inner face with studs or projections formedintegral therewith having the i dovetailed ends to be inserted throughthe larger portions and locked in the smaller dovetailed portions of theslots of the opposite plate, substantially as shown .and described. 2. Arail-joint comprising the rails and the fish-plates, one of said platesbeing provided 20 with the longitudinal slots having one end larger thanthe other which is dovetailed, the opposite plate being provided on itsinner face with studs or projections formed integral therewith andhaving the dovetailed ends to be insertedand locked in the smallerordove- Witnesses:

WILLIAM 0. Hanan, W. W. MORRISON.

